Sleep Disorders (Sleep Apnea)
When you think of Sleep apnea, you probably picture someone who stops breathing intermittently throughout the night when they are sleeping.
When one suffers from sleep apnea, the body is deprived of oxygen for a short time period. Over a long period of time, this can cause damage to your heart. If not treated, sleep apnea plays a major role in heart diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and other arrhythmias. All of these conditions pose a greater risk for a heart attack or stroke.
How Miami Pulmonary Specialists Treat Sleep Apnea
Most instances of sleep apnea can’t be traced to a particular root cause. For this very reason, treatment is based on keeping one’s airway open while the individual sleeps. There are several ways this can be done.
CPAP Machine
This therapy has a patient wearing a face mask hooked up to oxygen. The oxygen flows at a steady pressure, keeping the person’s airway open at all times.
Airway Pressure Device
This device works to keep the airway open so that oxygen can get through. This device varies and is often well-tolerated when the CPAP machine is uncomfortable.
Mouthpiece
A mouthpiece for sleep apnea is specially molded to you, and is very similar to what sports players wear. These work well for patients who have a deformity in their jaw or have issues with the tongue rolling backward and blocking the airway.
Surgery
This is often the last resort and is only used when there is a physical reason causing the blocked airway that can’t be corrected with a less-invasive device.
Whatever the treatment method, the doctors at Miami Pulmonary Specialists will customize the right option to treat your sleep apnea.
Schedule your Appointment for Sleep Apnea
Miami Pulmonary Specialists have expansive experience with sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
For personalized and compassionate care, call Miami Pulmonary Specialists, or book an appointment online today.